How to Change Careers at 40 and Beyond

Found yourself wondering if it’s okay to change career at 40? You’re not alone. As the big 4-0 approaches, many of us take a step back and reassess the future, particularly when it comes to our careers. By this time, you might have been working for 20+ years already with the same ahead of you, so it’s understandable if you fancy a change or wonder if it’s finally time to pursue that idea that’s always been at the back of your mind.

Whether you want to pursue a more fulfilling role, find a better work-life balance or you’re simply keen to explore new opportunities, making a career change at 40 can be incredibly rewarding but a little daunting too. However, with the right strategy and guidance, you can successfully change career at 40, 50 and beyond.

Is a Change of Career at 40 a Good Idea?

Absolutely! According to the American Institute of Economic Research, changing careers at 40 or older can make you happier and more successful. At this age, you’re likely to have more clarity about your priorities and values, so switching to a career that aligns with who you are now will positively impact your wellbeing. As the saying goes: “Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

5 Common Reasons for a Career Change at 40

Making a career change at 40 can transform your day-to-day life and your future. Taking a moment to reflect on your reasons for wanting a change will fuel your drive and help you make informed decisions as you navigate the journey. Wondering if your reason is strong enough to turn your back on your current career? You’ll know in your gut if it feels right but to guide your decision, here are some common reasons why people approaching their 40s seek a career change:

1. Take Care of Your Mental Health

If you’ve found yourself in a toxic workplace, constantly feeling burnout, overwhelmed with stress or demotivated, a career change at 40, or any other age for that matter, could be just what you need. Switching to a career that aligns with your values and passions, where you have a boss who understands your boundaries and where you can enjoy a healthier work-life balance, can significantly enhance your wellbeing.

2. Pursue Your Interests

A 2019 survey carried out by Perkbox found that 64% of adults wish they were doing whatever their dream job was in childhood. The most popular job participants wished they had was being a vet, followed by teacher and pilot. With the right support in place, there’s no reason why you can’t retrain to follow your childhood dreams as you navigate changing careers at 40.

3. Seek Growth and Fulfilment

If you feel stuck in a dead-end job with no sense of fulfilment, changing careers at 40 can open doors to fresh opportunities and ignite a renewed sense of purpose. It’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks, right?

4. Improve Your Financial Prospects

With both the retirement age and cost of living rising, you might be thinking more about whether you have enough saved for your future, especially around the time of a big birthday. Maybe your current salary is insufficient for the lifestyle you want or you feel underpaid for your skills and experience. Changing careers might lead you to a path that offers higher pay and better benefits, giving you more financial security and a different standard of living for the years ahead.

5. Desire for Remote Working

According to Forbes’ Remote Work Statistics & Trends 2023, 57% of workers consider changing jobs if they don’t have the option to work remotely. If your current job ties you to a physical location, but you yearn for the flexibility that comes with remote work, a career change at 40 could allow you to explore work from home options and enjoy a better work-life balance

Ideas for a Career Change at 40

Changing careers at 40 opens up a world of possibilities where you can apply your existing skills to a brand new role. Reality check: you’re not going to switch from being an HR manager to a pilot overnight but here are some more realistic (but still incredibly exciting) ideas for a career change that you might want to seriously consider:

IT to Digital Marketing

If you’re looking for a career change away from IT, your expertise in data analytics and digital tools positions you well for a career in digital marketing. Transitioning into this field allows you to express your creativity while still using your technical understanding.

Teaching to Instructional Design

Transitioning from teaching to instructional design opens an exciting path where you’ll create engaging educational materials for diverse audiences. Your skills in communicating facts in a way that encourages learning will come in incredibly handy, allowing you to create effective learning experiences for a different audience than you might have previously been used to. You’ll find these kinds of opportunities in colleges and universities, with e-learning platforms and within corporate training organisations.

Psychology to UX Research

Transitioning from psychology to user experience (UX) is an exciting career change option that will allow you to use your understanding of human behaviour to create better user experiences for tech users. From big tech companies to website development agencies, lots of companies need UX researchers and designers. It might be a career you hadn’t even heard of 20 years ago when you were starting out, which is one of the many reasons why changing careers at 40 can be so exciting and refreshing.

Events Planning to Project Management

Transitioning from event planning to project management will allow you to continue making the most of your organisational skills and attention to detail. Project managers are needed in pretty much every industry from tech to healthcare and from construction to management consulting. If you love working with people, are a strong team player, know how to manage risk, budget and solve problems, this could be the perfect job for your career change at 40.

How to Change Careers at 40

Navigating a career change at 40 requires a strong sense of self-awareness and a decent dose of confidence. Preparation and research are a key part of changing careers successfully, so here’s our step-by-step guide:

1. Know your deal breakers

A career change at 40 is a chance to make sure you have more of what you want from your job ready for the years ahead. It’s important to know your non-negotiables, the deal breakers – the things that are a definite ‘no’ for you. You might have your heart set on remote work, need a short commute or have no desire to work after 6pm ever again. Whatever’s important to you, changing careers at 40 is a chance to make it your reality.

2. Identify your transferable skills

Transferable skills are qualities you have that can be applied to a variety of roles across different industries. For example, good communication skills are valuable in virtually every sector, while leadership experience will stay with you throughout your career, no matter where you end up. Reflect on the skills you’ve gained during your journey so far and consider how they can add value as you change career at 40 or beyond.

3. Do your research

Spend some time reviewing online job listings and look at the requirements and benefits of different roles that catch your eye. Create a list of best-fit career options and remember to account for your deal breakers.

4. Develop your skills

If you lack the specific skills for your desired target role, invest time and effort in upskilling yourself. You might need to get some new qualifications, which are more accessible than ever thanks to platforms like Udemy and Coursera. Take the time to brush up on your soft skills like your presentation prowess and organisation too. If you’re not sure where to start, look into soft skills mentoring.

5. Reach out to your network

Once you’ve decided to pursue a career change at 40, reach out to friends, family or connections who already work in your desired field. Share your career change plans and seek their guidance. They may offer useful insights and introduce you to relevant contacts. Use LinkedIn and attend sector-specific networking events to expand your network further – you never know who you might meet and the doors that could be opened for you.

6. Ask for support

Going after a change of career at 40 can be overwhelming at times, so it’s important to surround yourself with the right support. You may be starting from scratch in a brand new field, have to deal with rejections for the first time in years or conquer your nerves and fears as you step outside your comfort zone. Throughout these times, it’s important to have a solid support network to lean on. This could include your friends, family or even a career change mentor.

Find a Mentor

Navigating a career change at 40 can be challenging but you don’t have to do it alone. Find someone who supports your dreams and goals, who understands what it’s like to completely change your career direction and will guide you on the path ahead when you feel lost.

That person is a mentor – a ‘Career Navig8r’ in our case – there to act as your compass, every step of the way as you overcome the challenges of changing careers at 40. Browse mentors by job type, sign up and verify your email and connect with a mentor who’s right for you.

Embrace your career change with confidence.